PARAMITA MUKHERJEE MULLICK

 

 

The Deluge

 

The great Mumbai floods and the young mother

Trying to reach her child’s creche.

She was going back home from work.

She got down from the train and got up in the bus.

The incessant rain went on and the bus stood still.

After an hour she got down with two other women.

The three women started walking.

The water started rising,

They waded through knee deep water.

Then it became waist deep and

Gradually it became neck deep.

All the streets were flooded.

Three women walked holding each other's hand tightly.

The current of the flood water pulled them towards the drains.

The good Samaritans, the street boys made a circle around the open drains

Lest anybody falls in the drains.

Dusk fell like a curtain.

The young mother was desperate to reach her child.

Her mobile was no longer working.

No news from her husband as his mobile must have stopped working as well.

The three women were totally immersed in water.

Their feet become numb.

Three women walked holding each other's hand tightly.

There were sudden power cuts all around.

The three waded through the darkness in neck deep water.

Holding tight, wading forward, offering each other strength.

Three women walked holding hands in the Mumbai deluge.

A Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian.

 

We Are One

 

As I am aging, I am becoming more like my parents.

My thoughts, my ideas and ideals are somewhere blending in.

My mother’s compassion to all irrespective of class and creed.

More than prayers she believed in a good deed.

Somehow that same kindness is seeping into me.

Somewhere my opinions are a reflection of hers.

Exploring diverse rituals and different food.

Knowing from the first instance what is bad and what is good.

 

As I am aging, I am becoming more like my parents.

My emotions, my ideology are amalgamating with them.

My father’s anthropological research about different tribes.

Different cultures and different vibes.

The origin and evolution of man.

The similar and different genetic traits.

Respecting diversity and keeping alive cultures was his vision.

But the thread of unity should bind all, that was his mission.

Anthropology teaches us we humans may have different cultures and some may have won.

But we are the same biological species and we are ONE.

 

PARAMITA MUKHERJEE MULLICK

 

Dr. PARAMITA MUKHERJEE MULLICK is a scientist, a literary curator and an award-winning poet. She has twelve published books and her poems have been translated into forty-five languages. Her books have been translated into Spanish, French, Chinese and Croatian. She promotes peace, multilingual and indigenous poetry. Her education and passion is diverse but united with her emotions. While promoting indigenous and multilingual poetry she always brings in unity in diversity. So, this theme: Unity in diversity is very much close to her heart.